Laying your Motorhome up for the Summer

[paulhelenwilko]

This is a motorhome thread for Annie...

So it looks like we may have to forego our motorhome pleasures for some weeks. We always have plenty of threads about laying up for winter.... but what about laying up for many weeks in the summer what prep do we need to do ? Should we SORN ? How often should we run the engine or move the wheels ? What jobs are people going to get done ?

And on the bright side how do we make sure all is ready for the 'all clear'.

Paul

 

[witzend]

SORN'ing and Taxing is easily done on line when at home I usually sorn mine if home for a month now we'll probably be laided up for at least 4 months so worth the effort. Keep mine at home so connect EHU once a week for 24 hrs keeps batterys charged start it up a couple of times a wk run it at a fast tick over till up to temp open windows when sunny.
Never packed it for much over a month in last 10 yrs but will run heater and fridge now and again as well

 

[harrow]

Well you should not have to worry about it freezing
Keep the tyres pumped up and the battery charged and we will have to see how things turn out.

 

[Robmac]

Remove all Pasta, Rice, Pot Noodles, Beans and bog roll.

 

[campervanannie]

Not sorning mine but we have turned it into an isolation ward with my compromised immune system I may end up living in it on the drive so it’s been bleached and cleaned within an inch of its life it’s full of water Diesel and gas if the walking dead appear on the streets it will be our get away vehicle too

 

[mid4did]

I,ll be sorning when the insurance is due end of april beginning of may.Nothing to gain from doing it sooner.All ready to go as we had everything packed for the off just over a week ago.

 

[harrow]

Not sorning mine but we have turned it into an isolation ward with my compromised immune system I may end up living in it on the drive so it’s been bleached and cleaned within an inch of its life it’s full of water Diesel and gas if the walking dead appear on the streets it will be our get away vehicle too

It will be the zombie wildcampers that will want your van ,

sleep well

 

[Lee]

Remove all Pasta, Rice, Pot Noodles, Beans and bog roll.

So we now know where you are storing your panic bought goods.
I HOPE YOU ARE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.

 

[witzend]

I,ll be sorning when the insurance is due end of april beginning of may.Nothing to gain from doing it sooner

Doing it end of this month you'll Gain £20 hardly nothing

 

[izwozral]

I am turning mine into a giant cold frame to bring seedlings on.

 

[trevskoda]

SORN'ing and Taxing is easily done on line when at home I usually sorn mine if home for a month now we'll probably be laided up for at least 4 months so worth the effort. Keep mine at home so connect EHU once a week for 24 hrs keeps batterys charged start it up a couple of times a wk run it at a fast tick over till up to temp open windows when sunny.
Never packed it for much over a month in last 10 yrs but will run heater and fridge now and again as well

Starting a engine and not taking for a run is the worst thing you can do,more wear in first 2 mins,takes at least 40 miles to get battery back up to 100% after turning the starter,what you should always do before a long layup is change the oil and jack up leaving wheels clear of ground but do turn to stop the discs and drums from sticking,dont put the h/brake on,do keep both starter and hab battery on a smart charger,keep mice out.

 

[yorkieowl]

I never usually bothered with Sorn, but think it makes sense to do it before end of March as it's gonna be 2/3 months minimum before anybody is going anywhere. I reckon it will be even longer.

 

[mid4did]

I,ll be sorning when the insurance is due end of april beginning of may.Nothing to gain from doing it sooner.All ready to go as we had everything packed for the off just over a week ago.

Doing it end of this month you'll Gain £20 hardly nothing

Yes I agree in most cases but in our case the motorhome is registered and taxed under disabled class.

 

[Fisherman]

As for the van I have to take my wife to work and back.
So I intend to drive the van there and back once the car reaches half full.
I don't want it sitting idle for months, or full of old fuel.
Just remember if you don’t renew your insurance it could be stolen or be vandalised or a fire could start.

 

[trevskoda]

As for the van I have to take my wife to work and back.
So I intend to drive the van there and back once the car reaches half full.
I don't want it sitting idle for months, or full of old fuel.
Just remember if you don’t renew your insurance it could be stolen or be vandalised or a fire could start.

The fuel will be ok as long as you keep the tank full to the neck.

 

[Fisherman]

The fuel will be ok as long as you keep the tank full to the neck.

Yes Trev, but I don’t like the idea of the van laying up to long.
My wife works in M&S and it’s a 10 mile round trip.
The car is full at the moment, will run it to half a tank first.

 

[in h]

I'm not going to SORN it for less than 50p per day, but I may find the time to WASH it.

 

[wildebus]

Starting a engine and not taking for a run is the worst thing you can do,more wear in first 2 mins,takes at least 40 miles to get battery back up to 100% after turning the starter,what you should always do before a long layup is change the oil and jack up leaving wheels clear of ground but do turn to stop the discs and drums from sticking,dont put the h/brake on,do keep both starter and hab battery on a smart charger,keep mice out.

This is a tricky one....
I want to do an oil and filter change as it is long overdue anyway. But you should warm the oil up before changing - but not allowed to drive it to warm it and letting it idle is not the best way either. Hmmmm

ref keeping the Starter Charged up. For anyone who has hookup to their Leisure Battery, but the starter battery does not get anything, this kind of lead can be handy - https://amzn.to/3amlWyf.
Plug one end into the cigar lighter in the dash (usually permanent live) and the other to a lesiure battery 12V socket and that will keep the starter at the same voltage as the leisure.
(I know it says "currently unavailable" - it is just a link to show the kind of cable to look for)

 

[wildebus]

Yes Trev, but I don’t like the idea of the van laying up to long.
My wife works in M&S and it’s a 10 mile round trip.
The car is full at the moment, will run it to half a tank first.

I made a conscious decision to fill both the van and the car with fuel just in case there were any fuel delivery shortages (you never know!)
Also had the oil tank filled for the same reason and got some fuel in a jerry can for the generator. Some may regard as "panic buying", I regard as sensible precautions.

With 645Ah of battery in the van, 400W of Solar on the roof, another 390W of Solar in loose panels (stock for selling but I could cable up), I guess there is a bit of doomsday prepping there.

 

[Fisherman]

I made a conscious decision to fill both the van and the car with fuel just in case there were any fuel delivery shortages (you never know!)
Also had the oil tank filled for the same reason and got some fuel in a jerry can for the generator. Some may regard as "panic buying", I regard as sensible precautions.

With 645Ah of battery in the van, 400W of Solar on the roof, another 390W of Solar in loose panels (stock for selling but I could cable up), I guess there is a bit of doomsday prepping there.

The roads are quiet up here, not much fuel being used so I doubt if there will be a fuel shortage. Also Costco premium diesel £1.06